Working to fight opiate epidemic

TEWKSBURY -- More than a year after reopening under new management, the substance-abuse detoxification center at Tewksbury Hospital is operating nearly at capacity, working to address the problem of drug and alcohol abuse in the Merrimack Valley.

The Tewksbury Treatment Center reopened in June 2013 under the management of Lahey Health Behavioral Services after being closed since December 2010.

The facility was formerly operated by the Lowell Community Health Center but closed when operational costs became too high.

State Rep. Tom Golden, D-Lowell, pushed particularly hard for state funding to reopen the facility.

"The community as a whole -- the community, the commonwealth and the country -- has realized that the addiction going on throughout the country is something extremely concerning and something we need to pay attention to," Golden said. "I believe here in Massachusetts we've been at the forefront of trying to combat this epidemic."

While the Tewksbury center was closed, other facilities in Boston, Danvers and Worcester became overloaded, Golden said, with not enough beds to serve all those in need.

"When it closed, that made such a negative impact for people who needed the assistance. Our job was to do everything we could to make sure we had some people close to home," Golden said.

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He said the need for a detox facility in the Merrimack Valley is an unfortunate reality as opiate abuse becomes increasingly prevalent across the state.

"It's something I would prefer any community did not need, but the reality is every community is really experiencing an uptick in overdoses, as well as usage that is not legal," Golden said.

Gary Gastman, vice president of the addiction-treatment services division for Lahey Health Behavioral Services, said the 32-bed facility, which had only 24 beds under LCHC, has operated at about 95 percent capacity on average since it reopened.

Some days, he said, the treatment center is full and operates on a waiting list, though it usually takes only a day or two for a spot to open up.

The treatment center offers four- to six-day stays for people to help detoxify from drug and alcohol addiction, with the aid of medications to ease symptoms such as nausea, cramping and discomfort.

After leaving the facility, all patients are assisted in making plans to go to another residential rehabilitation program, halfway house or outpatient program.

"We try to keep folks engaged in treatment so they go from us to another level of residential care, rather than just going home or out on the street," Gastman said.

The majority of patients come from Lowell, followed by Lawrence, Tewksbury, Haverhill, Dracut and Billerica, according to Gastman. But others have come from as far away as Boston, Beverly, Stoughton and Ayer.

Since reopening last spring, the treatment center taken in more than 2,900 patients.

Over the last 10 to 15 years, Gastman said, he's seen a transition from treating people mostly for alcoholism to most patients being treated for opiate addiction.

Now, 82 percent of patients are there for opiate detoxification.

With that shift, the demographic has also gotten younger, with the largest group of patients falling between the 18- and 32-year age range. Opiate abuse, Gastman said, has fallen into mainstream use among a wide variety of young people.

With that transition, he said, the need for the void to be filled was even greater.

"They are needed in general because it's the first step into trying to get some traction in sobriety from drugs or alcohol," Gastman said. "It's difficult for a lot of clients to stop using on their own because so many other factors in their lives haven't changed -- who they associate with, their family makeup, whether they work or don't work."

Bill Garr is the CEO of Lowell House, an addiction-treatment center on Merrimack Street. He said the Tewksbury Treatment Center often serves as a feeder for Lowell House, and provides a critical service to those struggling with addiction.

"It's really the first step in moving toward sobriety. The community is really struggling right now with so many addiction issues, especially opiate addiction, that I think in the end it is a very critical piece for us that it remain open and remain financially healthy," Garr said.

Even with Lahey stepping in to reopen the Tewksbury site, there's still a need for more beds in the region, Garr said.

"The population that is addicted to opioids has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years. The demand for detox has been incredible. We're fortunate to have a good one here, but the demand still exceeds the number of beds that they have on a regular basis," Garr said.

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